Leg and foot construction for stuffed figure toys



Oct. 18, 1966 L. WHITE 3,279,121

LEG AND FOOT CONSTRUCTION FOR STUFFED FIGURE TOYS Filed Jan. 2, 1963 INVENTOR. LEO L. WHITE United States Patent LEG AND FOOT CONSTRUCTION FOR STUFFED FIGURE TOYS This invention relates to stufied toys, and more particularly, to stuffed toy animals and dolls, and to a foot construction therefor.

Stnlied toys of the character under discussion are generally provided with feet which perform two functions: one is the function of providing a natural appearance, since in true life animal legs terminate in feet; the second is the function of closing-01f the lower ends of the legs in order to contain the stufling. These iunctions are also performed by the present invention.

One object of this invention is the provision of a foot construction of the character described which may conveniently and even esthetically be applied to toy animals and dolls of many kinds. In other words, the same foot construction which would be applicable to a stuffed toy horse would also be applicable to a stuffed toy elephant or dog, or any other four-legged animal. The same construction would similarly be applicable to stuffed toy dolls.

Briefly stated, the present invention comprises a disc or annular-shaped element which represents the foot, a ring-shaped flange projecting upwardly therefrom into the lower end of the stufied leg, and a retaining ring which serves as a clamping element adapted to clamp said lower end of the leg against the ring-shaped flange. When a disc is provided to represent the foot, the retaining or clamping ring is open at both ends. When an annular flange is provided to represent the foot, the retaining or clamping ring is closed at one end to form a cup. The differences between these two constructions, their respective functions, and the manner in which they are assembled or installed will shortly be described.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that an important feature of this invention is the provision of a foot construction which maybe made inexpensively of molded plastics, and which may very readily be assembled and installed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a foot construction of the character described which provides a relatively substantial support for stuffed toy animals and dolls, giving them increased stability and equilibnum.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is the perspective view of a stuffed toy animal, namely an elephant, embodying the foot construction of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective side view of one of its legs, showing the foot construction applied thereto.

FIGURE 3 is a view like that of FIGURE 2, but showing the leg in flexed position to demonstrate its flexible construction.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section through the leg taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse section through said leg on the line 55 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of the two components of one form of foot construction embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lower end of a stuffed animal leg showing a modified form of foot construction embodying the principles of this invention.

3,279,121 Patented Oct, .18, 196 6 ice I FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of one of the two components of said last-mentioned foot construction.

FIGURE "9 is a transverse section on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 4.

The stufied toy elephant 10 show-n in FIGURE 1 of the drawing is intended to illustrate the many kinds of stuffed toy animals and dolls to which the present invention may be applied. This toy is provided with four legs which may be, and generally are, identical in construction. In any event, when the present invention is applied to these legs, the foot constructions of the several legs are identical, and it is sufficient to illustrate and describe only one.

Stuffed leg 12 is a tubular sleeve 14 made of sheet material, generally woven textile. A line of stitching 16 across its upper end closes it off at that end, and either that line of stitching or another may be used to attach the upper end of the leg to the body of the animal, as FIGURE 1 clearly shows. Contained within the sleeve is stutfing or filling material 18, which may be inserted into the sleeve in any conventional manner. The lower end of the sleeve remains open and it is here where the present invention is applied.

Referring now to the first form of the invention, as illustrated particularly in FIGURES 4, 6 and 9, it will be observe-d that a ring 20 is inserted into the tubular sleeve 14 through the lower end thereof, and said lower end is then folded inwardly and upwardly to form a told portion 22. The filling material 18 may be stuffed into the sleeve prior or subsequent to this operation.

The next step, and this is the final step in the assem- -bly and installation of the foot construction herein claimed, is the insertion of annular flange or collar 24 of foot 26 into the lower end of the leg and, more particularly, against the inner face of the folded portion 22 of the tubular sleeve 14. A clamping action is accordingly effected [against said inwardly and upwardly turned and folded end 22 of the sleeve, between ring 20 and annular collar 24. clamping action also serves, and this is its primary function, to secure the foot portion 26 to the lower end of leg 12.

It will now be seen that annular collar 24 projects upwardly from, and is integral with, a disc portion 28. This disc portion and, more particularly, that annular portion thereof which extends radially outwardly from annular collar 24 constitutes the visible foot element of the foot construction. Obviously, this visible annular portion of disc 28 may be provided with any desired or required shape. The preferred form is the annular form shown; however, it may be shaped to correspond precisely to the outline shape of a foot. One shape is equally as good as any other shape, from the point of view of manufacture, since in the preferred operation of this invention, the foot portion 26 is a plastic molding and it will of course assume any shape that the mold provides. The annular shape shown in the drawing is preferred because it may be applied to virtually all species of stuffed animals and dolls, as well.

The inner portion of disc 28, that is, the portion of said disc which lies within annular collar 24, serves as a closure for the lower end of the leg, in order to contain the stufling therein.

In the second form of this invention, as illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8, foot portion 30 consists of an annular collar 32 which projects upwardly from the inner peripheral edge of a horizontal annular flange 34, substantially at right angles thereto. A cup-shaped element 36 serves as the clamping and stuffing retaining element of this construction. It will be observed that the lower end of tubular sleeve 38 of stuffed leg 40 is disposed and clamped between collar 32 and the cylindrical wall 42 of cup-shaped element 36. The bottom wall of said cupshaped element serves as a closure to retain the stufling 44 in sleeve 38.

The foregoing is illustrative of the preferred forms of the invention, and it Will be understood that these forms may be modified and other forms may be provided within the broad spirit of the invention and the broad scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. ,A stufled leg construction for stufled toy animals and dolls, comprising a tubular sleeve, stufiing within said sleeve, and a foot element attached to the lower end of said tubular sleeve to serve as a foot therefor and to retain the stuffing, said foot element comprising a clamping ring, a disc closing-01f the bottom of said clamping 'ring, a collar concentric with said clamping ring, and an annular flange projecting radially outwardly from said collar, the lower end of said sleeve being clamped between said clamping ring and said collar.

2. A stuffed leg construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein the collar and the annular flange projecting radially outwardly therefrom comprise a single integral plastic molding.

3. A stuffed leg construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein the collar, the annular flange projecting radially outwardly therefrom, and the disc are all integral with each other, comprising a single plastic molding.

4; A stuffed leg construction in accordance With claim 1, wherein the clamping ring and the disc are integral with each other, comprising a single cup-shaped plastic molding.

5. A stuffed leg construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein the collar, the annular flange projecting radia1- 'ly outwardly therefrom, and the disc are all integral with each other, comprising a single plastic molding, said. collar being disposed inwardly of said clamping ring, the lower end of said tubular sleeve being folded inwardly.

and then upwardly to enclose said clamping ring, said inwardly and upwardly folded end of the sleeve being;

clamped between said clamping ring and said collar.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 952,731 3/1910 Gibson 46158 1,300,646 4/1919 Prevet 22292 1,478,348 12/ 1923 Myers 46158 2,038,760 4/ 1936 Roselle 222-107 2,279,799 4/1942 Stanford 46-117 2,472,064 6/1949 Damiano 46118 X 2,476,446 7/1949 Lindell 222-107 2,701,934 2/ 1955 Auzin 46118 X FOREIGN PATENTS 383,834 11/1932 Great Britain.

545,261 5/ 1942 Great Britain.

694,741 7/ 1953 Great Britain.

249,269 3/ 1948 Switzerland.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. F. B. SHAY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A STUFFED LEG CONSTRUCTED FOR STUFFED TOY ANIMALS AND DOLLS, COMPRISING TUBULAR SLEEVE, STUFFING WITHIN SAID SLEEVE, AND A FOOT ELEMENT ATTACHED TO THE LOWER END OF SAID TUBULAR SLEEVE TO SERVE AS A FOOT THEREFOR AND TO RETAIN THE STUFFING, SAID FOOT ELEMENT COMPRISING A CLAMPING RING, A DISC CLOSING-OFF THE BOTTOM OF SAID CLAMPING RING, A COLLAR CONCENTRIC WITH SAID CLAMPING RING, AND AN ANNULAR FLANGE PROJECTING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID COLLAR, THE LOWER END OF SAID SLEEVE BEING CLAMPED BETWEEN SAID CLAMPING RING AND SAID COLLAR. 